These two results may be the most important for Harvard to reverse if the team is to turn the result around.

"Both of our one and two players have beaten their opponents in the past year," Wyant said. "Our number four [freshman Deepak Abraham] lost in five games and the number five [senior Jeff Blumberg] match went to four games. The match was closer than the score, and 6-3 is relatively close anyway."

Harvard's other two wins came at the sixth and ninth spots as junior Beitchman (def. Josh Miller 15-12, 15-12, 11-15, 17-15) and freshman Andrew Merril (def. Duncan Pearson, 12-15, 15-6, 15-12, 11-15, 15-12) emerged victorious.

And so the streak ended, and the Crimson's season changed dramatically. At a point, a winning-streak becomes its own entity, something different than a season or a match. Now that streak is gone, and the players have to react to that change.

"It was very inspiring to be a part of such an excellent tradition," Lauer said. "I know losing left no one with a good feeling. Most of us are angry and ready to get back to work. I think in the long run it will make us work even harder."

"I think, first and foremost, it was disappointing, but it forces us to become more determined," Wyant said. "It heightens the challenge for us."

The challenge looms two weeks ahead. Harvard and Trinity now seem prepared to engage in a classic rivalry. The two teams squared off in the finals of last season's national championship tournament, with the Crimson emerging victorious, and are expecting to meet at the same point in this year's tournament two weeks from now.

"For the first time in a long time we will be the underdogs and that will fuel our fire," Lauer said.

"We need to work harder and become more determined to prepare for an even more difficult challenge in the nationals," Wyant said.

Ezra summed things up best when he said, "In two weeks hopefully we'll get a better result."